TANZANIA: Centenary Jubilee of ordination of indigenous priesthood to close in Dodoma

Rodrick ray, Dodoma

The Catholic Archdiocese of Dodoma will host the climax of the jubilee celebrations of 100 years since the first African priests were ordained in Tanzania 1917.

The announcement was made by Rt. Rev. Edward Mapunda of Singida Catholic Diocese while presiding over Eucharistic celebrations during a diaconate ordination of two seminarians from the Missionaries of the Precious Blood of Jesus Congregation at Itigi Singida.

Bishop Mapunda said that it is a great honour given to Metropolitan of Dodoma which is composed of three dioceses, Archdiocese of Dodoma, Singida and Kondoa Diocese.

However, he said that apart from the centenary celebrations of the ordination of the first indigenous priests in Tanzania, the catholic Church in the country is scheduled to celebrate a Jubilee of 150 years since Christianity came to Tanzania mainland, a celebration that will take place next year 2018 in Bagamoyo.

Bishop Mapunda said that the climax of the celebrations of 100 years of priesthood is scheduled for August 15 2017 in Dodoma during the feast of the Assumption Virgin Mary.

“100 years of priesthood and 150 of Christianity in Tanzania mainland is a gift from God that believers should thank God for the gift of the missionaries who came to Tanzania to encourage young people to join the mission and finally become priests.

He acknowledged that the church is still in need of priests so “I urge you faithful to continue praying so that the Church may have enough priests who will carry on with the work of evangelization for the present and future generations.”

He challenged priests to solve the challenges of evangelization according to the need and signs of time, as they differ with those of the early missionaries where the world was different from this digital age.

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